Often, when we think about getting closer to God, we expect to become more spiritual - to enjoy a higher level of answered prayers, breakthroughs, and power in our lives and ministries. However, in (Psalm 131). there is a far different emphasis on humility and peace as the primary effects of getting closer to God.

Often, when we think about getting closer to God, we expect to become more spiritual - to enjoy a higher level of answered prayers, breakthroughs, and power in our lives and ministries. However, in (Psalm 131). there is a far different emphasis on humility and peace as the primary effects of getting closer to God.

We thrill to hear stories of how people went from "rags to riches," but the fact is that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ then you have a better story! You have gone and are going from "Gutter to Glory." As such, you have the ability to pray, to hope, and to encourage others as you travel the journey of life.

Unlike Western Culture which is obsessed with eliminating or minimizing pain - the Bible never avoids pain. Many (even Christians) become angry with God when He doesn't remove pain from our lives. The Bible is very clear that when we learn how to find persistence and purpose in pain that is when we discover a deeper, richer, and more mature faith in Jesus Christ!

Every person has an instinctive desire for a better life because we intuitively know that life in this world isn't what it is supposed to be. (Psalm 128) teaches us that happiness and satisfaction cannot be found anywhere our with anything or anyone in this world. The Bible never promises a problem-free, pain-free life - but the Bible does tell us that following Jesus will give us the better life we're looking for!

This Psalm is designed to compel us to ask ourselves the question, "Is God Your Center?" We are products of our culture and civilization, but an honest analysis of our culture and civilization will indicate that God is NOT at the center. The challenge we all face is to discover the areas where our culture and civilization exert more influence on our values and priorities than Jesus Christ does.

The Bible is very clear that everyone who is serious about following Jesus will go through difficult, even painful times in their lives. Since Jesus is the "author and finisher" of our faith, there will come a day when Jesus will look upon our painful, difficult situation and say YES to our prayers, ENOUGH to our difficulties, and NOW to our deliverance!

In (1 Corinthians 15:58) we're told as Christians to be unshakable - when faced by the demands and pressures of life this seems like an impossible standard. However, (Psalm 125) tells us how a Christian can live their life of faith in Jesus Christ unshakably despite all of the storms of life and the assaults of Satan.

As we journey into the presence of God, sooner or later we will be confronted by the simple truth that God is MORE than we will ever be! In our pride we cling to our independence instead of learning how to live in God-dependence - then we take credit for what God has (and is) doing in our lives. As Christians, we sometimes believe that the blessings we receive are due to our own faith, holiness, and service - we need "A Lesson in Humility."

God is the source of every blessing that we receive in this life, yet all too often, we look to ourselves and to other things to provide us with the blessings we want when we want them. We need to look to God! Let our focus be on God as we watch for our blessings.

We live in a culture that tends to regard church-goers with a mixture of skepticism and ridicule as a waste of time. In our 24/7 society, many Christians have to fight this same attitude as their work (of necessity) consumes so much of their time leaving them with so little free-time. We in the West have to rediscover the passion and power that exists when Christians gather together to experience the presence of Jesus - and each other!

We live this life under the shadow of death. At any time we can face difficulties, problems, struggles, conflicts, traumas, and tragedies. Psalm 121 promises that God has given us Victory in the Valley - our challenge is that we don't always recognize the victory that God gives us.

Our Journey Into God's Presence begins, as does Psalm 120, with a prayer that is prayed to God in distress. Being human, we're not motivated to seek help or to change unless we are in some kind of distress. This is why it is in our distress that we can find Jesus!

For this final message of this series - we go back to the beginning of the Christian Church where we discover that Jesus-centered Christianity thrives on the expectation of the return of Jesus. When we truly Rediscover Jesus as our Returning King, we're motivated to passionately live out our Christian faith in this world.

Christians need to rediscover Jesus as their personal High Priest. This means that at this very moment Jesus is praying for you, and because of his role as High Priest you have the ability to pray to God, now, about anything. In this message, Pastor Matt encourages you to pour your heart out to God since he has poured himself out for you as your High Priest.